Key-container



June 25, 1935. A. WALLER 2,006,286

KEY CONTAINER Filed Jan. 26, 19:54

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Wil/mnu@ like/67H49?? Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY- CONTAINER Arthur Waller, Chicago, Ill; Application January 26, 1934, Serial No. 708,485

5' claims.

This invention relates to a key-container.

'Ihe invention is illustrated in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a container; Fig. 2 represents a sectional view taken on line 5 2 in Fig. 4, showing two keys arranged within the housing; Fig. 3 is a view of a tensioning-plate; Fig. 4 shows a side view of a loaded container; Fig. 5 represents the arrangement of the tensioning plates as seen from the side; Fig. 6 shows a broken section along line 6 in Fig. 1, showing the anchor members; Fig. 7 shows a detailed plan view ofthe ejector; Fig. 8 shows a broken section along the line 8 in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 shows a broken sectional view along line 9 in Fig. 1, and illus- 15 trates a raised identification mark; Fig. 10 is a broken section along line I in Fig. 1, showing a colored identication mark; and Fig. 11 illustrates an optional form of slotted body-member.

The container comprises body-members II, which are preferably elongated and of a general elliptical shape, and which may be of any substantially rigid material, such as bakelite or metal. The body-members are firmly held in spaced relation to form a housing, for example by rivets I2. The body-members are also provided with transverse slots I3, which are roughly at right angles to a line connecting rivets I2, and which are at an angle such as to produce nearly vertical forces to the axis-of the keys 23 and 30 24. For example, a slot at an angle of about 55 to a line connecting the posts on which the keys are mounted is satisfactory. The rivets are so positioned that the keys held in the body-members have free movement into and out of the container. As illustrated in the drawing, the rivets are placed on the exterior edge of the body-members about 1A; of the distance between the keyanchoring means. It is obvious that the rivets may be placed in any other position where they will not interfere with the keys, as for example on the major axis of the container near the center.

Anchoring means are provided at the ends of the major axis of the container, anchor screws I 4 being illustrated in Fig. 6. These screws are preferably cap screws having a slightly enlarged vtip 28 to limit their travel, and are provided with knurled heads. The screws are of such length as just to meet in the center of the container, and are separately operable so as to per- `mit removal of one key at a time.

The keys mounted upon the anchoring means are held under tension by spring means, in this instance'spring plates I5 which are best'illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 6. These plates may be fastened together in the center and at the ends pressed toward the body members, thereby providing constant frictional engagement with the keys, whether the keys are inside or outside of the container. When the keys are inside of the container the friction prevents their slipping outside, and when extended, the keys are held firmly and steadily.

Each slot I3 in the body-members is provided with a finger-operated ejector I6 which is slidably mounted therein. The ejectors comprise a cap Il, held under tension by the spring washer I8. The cap is mounted on a pin I9 provided with a head 2U. A collar 2l is loosely mounted on the lower portion of the pin, and a plurality of loosely mounted washers 22 are carried between the collar 2| and the head 20. The washers 22 progressively decrease in diameter as they approach the head, and the central apertures in the washers, which likewise diminish in size, are in each case slightly smaller than the next smaller washer. With this arrangement, a universal lost motion movement for the collar 2| is provided. As a result, the collar will carry around teeth or projections upon the keys when urging the keys from the container, particularly if the key is inserted with its toothed edge toward the collar, or in the case of keys which are serrated on both sides.

In Fig. 11, an optional form of slot is shown. The slot I3- is in the form of a letter S, each half thereof lying on the circumference of a circle drawn with the anchor screw holding the key on that side as a center, and toward the edge of the body member. In this way, there is no sliding movement of the pin over the key, and the lost motion connection is not so essential. Moreover, the ejector I6 may be made very much smaller with this arrangement, so that less space is required between the keys and the whole container may be narrowed.

In order to load the key container, an anchor-screw I4 is loosened, it being provided with a knurled head to facilitate this, and a key is slipped under the adjacent spring-plate I5, after which the screw may be again tightened. 'Ihis process may be repeated with other keys. When not in use, the keys are placed inside the bodymembers, and are held there by the spring-members. When it is desired to use a key, the ejector I6 pushes the end of the key outside of the bodymembers. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, when it isdesired to use key 24the ejector I 6 is pushed to the left. I

Identification marks 25 may be provided to indentify the various keys within the container.

For example, markers of dinerent colors may be i used to denote the different keys. It is preferred that at least one of the marks be identifiable in the dark, as for example mark 26, which has a raised ring, or a luminous ymark may be used.

'I'he rounded tip 28 of the anchor screw or pivot I4 provides, in conjunction with the tension plate Il, a very convenient snap-on loading and unloading mechanism. When the pivot' Il has been withdrawn as far as possible, the tip 28 projects above the body-member Il, and when, for example, the hole 29 in the key 24 (as shown in Fig. 2) is over the tip 2l, the key snaps into position and is held there by the tension plate i5. Similarly in unloading, the key is held on the tip until pulled oit, and there is no tendency for keys to slip out, even though an anchor screw should become loose.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the 'appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A key-container comprising a pair of bcdy members connected in spaced relation to form a housing, means for pivotally fastening a key within said housing, an ejector slidably mounted within a slot provided in one of said body members, said slot being disposed so as to guide said ejector selectively into engagement with either of two keys to swing the key from the housing,

and a collar mounted upon `said ejector with a lost-motion connection and adapted to engage said keys.

2. In a key container, an ejector for urging keys from said container,comprising a cap mounted upon a pin, and a collar upon said pin adapted to engage a key, said collar being mounted upon said pin to provide a universal lost-motion connection.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, in which said universal lost-motion connection comprises a central aperture in said collar and a plurality of washers thereon, decreasing in size and provided with central apertures smaller than the aperture in the collar and successively smaller than the next adjacent washer.

4. A key-container comprising a pair of rigid body members connected in spaced relation to form an open-sided housing for a plurality of keys, releasable pivotal connections for said keys within said housing, a slot in one of said body members, an ejector slidably mounted within said slot' to normally engage and swing either of two keys from the housing, and a pair of springs having diverging ends and adapted to body members.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4, in which the slot is disposed diagonally of the body member, and is curved in one direction on one side of the longitudinal axis of the member, and in the other direction on the other side of the axis.

ARTHUR WALLER.

25 tension keys between said ends and said rigid 

